SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 342

Statewide, Standardized Assessments
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SPONSOR
Arrington
FILED BY
Kristen Aston Arrington — District 25, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Education Pre-K - 12

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Statewide, Standardized Assessments; Requiring the Department of Education to develop versions of statewide, standardized assessments and specified portions of the statewide, standardized coordinated screening and progress monitoring system, respectively, in certain languages by a specified date; requiring the department to develop a timetable and an action plan for the development and implementation of such assessments and written portions of the system; authorizing parents to prohibit the use of such assessments and portions of the system in certain languages, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires state to offer tests in top three languages by 2027-28.

The Department of Education must create versions of statewide standardized assessments in the three most prevalent languages used by English language learners by the 2027-2028 school year.

The department must also make written portions of the coordinated screening and progress monitoring system available in those same three languages by that date.

Parents of English language learners may prohibit their student from taking any assessment or system portion in a language other than English.

The department must establish criteria for when using a non-English language version is appropriate and develop a timetable for adding further languages as feasible.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Development of Non-English Assessments majors. 1008.22(3)(d)

AIRequires the Department of Education to create versions of all statewide standardized assessments in the three most prevalent languages spoken by English language learners by the 2027-2028 school year.

“By the 2027-2028 school year, the Department of Education shall develop a version of each statewide, standardized assessment in the three most prevalent languages represented in” bill text, line 88 →
§ 2 Parental Right to Prohibit Non-English Administration majors. 1008.22(3)(d)

AIGrants parents of English language learners the authority to prohibit their child from taking any statewide assessment or written screening in a language other than English.

“A parent of a student who is an English language learner may prohibit his or her student from being administered an assessment in a language other than English.” bill text, line 94 →
§ 3 Mandatory Development of Non-English Screening Portions majors. 1008.25(9)(a)

AIRequires the Department of Education to make all written portions of the coordinated screening and progress monitoring system available in the three most prevalent languages by the 2027-2028 school year.

“By the 2027-2028 school year, be available for all written portions and be in the three most prevalent languages represented in the English language learner population” bill text, line 158 →
§ 4 Departmental Criteria for Language Use moderates. 1008.22(3)(d)

AIRequires the Department of Education to establish specific criteria determining when it is appropriate to administer assessments or screening portions in a language other than English.

“The department shall establish criteria for when the use of such assessments in a language other than English is appropriate.” bill text, line 92 →
§ 5 Development Timetable and Action Plan moderates. 1008.22(3)(d)

AIRequires the Department of Education to develop and publish a timetable and action plan for implementing the required non-English assessments and screening portions.

“The department shall develop a timetable and an action plan to develop and implement the assessments in the additional languages” bill text, line 97 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Pre-K - 12
1/13/2026
Introduced
11/17/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
11/4/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1008.22
+128 / −6
s. 1008.25
+122 / −0